61 American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS) ISSN (Print) 2313-4410, ISSN (Online) 2313-4402 © Global Society of Scientific Research and Researchers http://asrjetsjournal.org/ Flight Activity and Population Dynamics of the Olive Psylla, Eupyllura olivina Costa [Homoptera: Psyllaae] Infesting Ten Olive Cultivars in the Southern Highlands of West-Bank, Palestine Abdul-Jalil Hamdana*, Asmaa Alkamb a Department of Plant Production and Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Hebron University, P. O. Box. 40, Hebron, Palestine. bAl-Arroub Agricultural Experimental Station, NARC, Ministry of Agriculture, Palestine. aEmail: ajhamdan@hebron.edu; ajhamdan@hotmail.com Abstract This study was conducted in Al-Arroub agricultural experimental station, during 2013 season, to monitor the seasonal flight activity of the Eupyllura olivina [Homoptera: Psyllaae] in the southern highlands of Palestine using four sticky colored traps. The study also aims to evaluate the effect of olive cultivar on the population dynamics of olive psylla. Throughout this research, it was clear that flight activity as well as insect infestation by E. olivina began in early April and continued until the end of September with its peak of activity in mid of May. Results also confirmed that, the sticky yellow traps were more effecient in captuering E. olivina than other colored sticky traps. Moreover, variation in the susceptability of different olive cultivars was demonstrated among the ten examened olive cultivars. Keywords: Eupyllura olivine; flight activity; population dynamics; olive cultivar susceptibility. 1. Introduction Olive (Oleae europaaea L.) is one of the most important fruit trees in Palestine. The number of olive trees reached 11.3 million trees in Palestine, cultivated in an area of 45,140 hectares, and constituted about 67% of the total planted area with fruit trees in Palestine [1]. ------------------------------------------------- *Corresponding Author: http://asrjetsjournal.org/ mailto:ajhamdan@hotmail.com American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS) (2016) Volume 21, No 1, pp 61-68 62 Olive psylla, Euphyllura. olivina is one of the most dangerous pests that affected olive trees in the Mediterranean basin. Olive psylla, E. olivina was reported as one of the most important pests of olive trees in Palestine [2]. Nymphs were recorded under large amounts of white wax covering on olive florescence, and adults observed emerging in March and April in accordance with temperature and humidity degrees. In Jordan, author [3] investigated the factors affecting the distribution of E. olivina on olive in Jordan, and reported that, nymphal infestation was mainly found close to the fruits and the adult population of E. olivina showed two generations annually in mid-May and in end June,1984, and the summer generation caused a significant economic loss to olive fruit. Later on author [4] also reported that, the overwintering adults laid eggs from mid-November up to early April, 1989; emerging adults of the spring generation showed a peak in early May and, another peak for adults in summer generation between late June and early July. In Tunisia, author [5] reported E. olivina among the harmful pests of olive trees that caused serious damage on young shoots and flower clusters of olive plants in Sfax region. In Iran, author [6] studied the life table parameters of olive psylla infesting four different olive cultivars and concluded that, the development, reproduction and growth population parameters of the olive psylla, Euphyllura pakistanica were significantly influenced by olive cultivars. This study was conducted in the olive grove of Al-Arroub agricultural experimental station that include ten olive cultivar to monitor the flight activity of olive psylla, E. olivina and to record its population dynamics using ten different olive cultivars in Palestine. 2. Materials and Methods This study was conducted in an olive grove about 50 years old in Al-Arroub agricultural experimental station in the southern high lands of Palestine. The olive groove includes four terraced blocks, planted with 10 olive cultivars including Nabaly-Mohasen; Nabaly-Balady; Tell; Nasohi-Gaba; Sevelano; Balady; Grosya-Deponia; Telmesane; Kalamata and Manzanilo. 2.1. Monitoring flight activity of E, olivina To monitor the flight activity of olive psylla, traps were used from 1st April 2013 until 30th September 2013. Four sticky colored traps (Blue, Green, Red and Yellow) were used (Fig. 1). Each trap included colored sticky rectangular board with 15*25 cm dimension. One side of the trap was painted with a sticky adhesive paste (Rinifoot, Polisobutene 80% PA). The traps were randomly distributed in each block of the olive grove and hanged at a height of 1 to 2 m on olive trees. The sticky boards were weekly changed, and took to the laboratory where the trapped olive psylla were counted under binocular microscope. 2.2. Recording the population dynamics of E. olivina American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS) (2016) Volume 21, No 1, pp 61-68 63 Infestation data was recorded on 16 olive trees that were also used for monitoring the flight activity. At each chick (on the date of monitoring), five branches 20-25 cm length were randomly selected from the four sides and center of the selected olive tree and used to record the olive psylla infestation. Those branches were shocked inside a paper bag and the paper bags took back to the laboratory where the collected olive psylla counted and recorded under binocular microscope. Figure 1: Sticky colour traps (Blue, Green, Red, and Yellow) 3. Results 3.1. Effect of color of the sticky trap on it’s efficiency in attracting and capturing the olive psylla, Euphylura olivina: Results presented in Table (1) show the means of the total olive psylla that were captured/sticky trap during the experiment. The sums of 187 olive psylla were trapped/yellow trap; 34.25/green trap; 25/blue trap and 9.75 /red trap. It's concluded that yellow traps were significantly highest in attracting the adult olive psylla than any of the other used color traps. Table 1: Mean number of adult olive psylla that was captured/colour trap/month during 2013 in Al-Arroub agricultural experimental station. Mean* ± s.e Date Blue Green Red Yellow P value** April 1.75b±2.7 6.5b±4.1 1.75b±1.7 54.5a±44.7 0.016 May 4.25b±5. 19b±9 5.5b±3.1 88a±26.2 0.000 June 2.5b±1.7 3.25b±1.9 8.5b±5.9 32a±20.8 0.007 July 0.25b±.5 1b±1.4 4.5ab±1.3 7a±3.6 0.002 Aug 0.25b±.5 2ab±1.4 4.25a±1.3 2.75ab±1.5 0.005 Sept 0.75a±.9 2.5±1.7 0.5±2.2 3.25±2.3 0.6NS Total 9.75b±9 34.25b±9.6 25b±9.9 187.5a±50.2 0.000 *: Means within the same row with different letters significantly differ at P value ≤0.05 (Using Fisher's pairwise comparisons). **: NS=Not significant at P value ≥ 0.05 (Using Fisher's pairwise comparisons) American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS) (2016) Volume 21, No 1, pp 61-68 64 3.2. Seasonal flight activity of E. olivina in the southern highlands of Palestine during 2013 season: Results presented in (Fig 2) show the flight activity of E. olivina in Al-Arroub agricultural experimental station during 2013 season. It was found that E. olivina started its seasonal flight activity in Al-Arroub at the beginning of April, and then continued until late of September with its peak of flight activity at mid of May 2013. Figure 2: Flight activity of olive psylla recorded in Al-Arroub agricultural experimental station 2013. 3.3. Population dynamics of olive psylla, Euphylura olivina in the southern highlands of Palestine during 2013 season: The results in this section illustrate the population dynamics of E. olivina in Al-Arroub agricultural experimental station during 2013 season. Results presented in Fig (3) show that, the psylla infestation started on the early of April and continued up to harvesting at the end of September 2013, with its peak of infestation at the mid of May coinciding with its peak of flight activity. Figure 3: Rate of infestation of olive psylla in Al-Arroub Agricultural Experimental Station, 2013. 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 April May June July Aug Sept Blue Green Yellow Red Total 0 5 10 15 20 25 27-Mar 16-Apr 06-May 26-May 15-Jun 05-Jul 25-Jul 14-Aug 03-Sep 23-Sep Average Psyllid/Olive Tree American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS) (2016) Volume 21, No 1, pp 61-68 65 3.4. Susceptibility of olive cultivars to psylla infestation Results in Figure 4, illustrate the rate of psylla infestation on 10 different olive cultivars in Al-Arroub agricultural experimental station during 2013 season. Results show that the rate of psylla infestation was significantly affected by the cultivar of the olive trees. Thus, Balady was significantly the highest susceptable olive cultivar to olive psylla infestation with mean total of 249 psylla/olive tree; followed by Grosya Deponia cultivar ith 196 psylla/tree and Sevelano cultivar with 161 psylla/tree. However, the other cultivars showed low susceptability to olive psylla infestation and the mean total numbers of psylla recorded on these cultivars were 55 psylla /tree on Nasohi Gaba; 48 on Kalamata cultivar; 37 on Tell cultivar; 35 on Nabaly Mohasen cultivar; 33 on Telmesani cultivar; 18.6 on Nabaly Baladi and the least rate of psylla infestation was recordrd on Manzanilo cultivar with 6 psylla/tree. Figure 4: Rate of infestation of olive psylla recorded on 10 olive cultivars in Al-Arroub Agricultural Experimental Station during 2013 season. In conclusion, same trend of susceptability was observed on the rate of establishment of infestation that was recorded at early of April with significantly highest record of psylla on three olive cultivars including Balady; Grosya Deponia and Sevilano and low rate of infestation on all other investigated cultivars (Table 2). 4. Discussion 4.1. Flight activity of Euphylura olivina Results of the present study showed that throughout 2013 season, the seasonal flight activity of E. olivina started in early April, and continued its activity throughout the season till the end of September 2013. Present study also demonstrated one peak of flight activity of E. olivina occurred at the mid of May. 35 18.6 37 57 161 249 196 33 48 6 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 Total Psyllid/Olive Tree American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS) (2016) Volume 21, No 1, pp 61-68 66 Table 2: Mean number of olive psylla/tree recorded infested ten olive cultivars in Al-Arroub Agricultural Experimental Station during 2013 season. Date Nabaly Mohasen Nabaly Balady Tell Nasohi Gaba Sevelano Balady Grosya Deponia Telmisane Kalamata Manzanillo P value 15-4-13 0b 0.6.7b 0b 2.333b 34a 35a 31a 2b 1b 1b 0.001 27-4-14 2c 1.6c 1c 0.667c 14bc 22b 80a 9c 6c 0c 0.001 13-5-13 0b 3.2b 1b 22b 55ab 120a 20b 3b 30b 0b 0.018 22-05-13 9 4.8 6 14 11 3 50 10 1 0 0.477NS 04-06-13 11b 0.4b 0b 9.333b 18ab 50a 5b 1b 2b 1b 0.047 16-06-13 3b 2.4 11a 1b 10a 5ab 1b 5ab 0b 0b 0.041 30-06-13 1 0.4 1 2 2 3 1 0 0 1 0.822NS 16-07-13 3 1.4 6 1.333 8 7 2 0 0 0 0.133NS 31-07-13 1 0.4 0 0.333 1 0 0 0 3 0 0.104NS 13-08-13 1 1.4 3 0 2 1 0 2 3 0 0.57NS 26-08-13 3 0.6 3 0.333 2 3 2 0 0 1 0.092NS 09-09-13 1 1.4 5 0.667 4 0 4 1 2 2 0.532NS Total 35b 18.6b 37b 57b 161ab 249a 196ab 33b 48b 6b 0.035 *: Means within the same row with different letters significantly differ at P value ≤0.05 (Using Fisher's pairwise comparisons) **: NS=Not significant at P value ≥ 0.05 (Using Fisher's pairwise comparisons). American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS) (2016) Volume 21, No 1, pp 61-68 67 In addition, this research confirmed that throughout the season, the sticky yellow traps were the most efficient in capturing E. olivina than the green; red and blue traps. Those results are similar to that concluded by author [3, 4, & 7] in Jordan who reported two generations of olive psylla in Jordan groves: author [3] recorded spring generation with its peak of adult activity occurred in the med of May followed by summer generation with its peak of adult activity between late June and early July. In addition, author [8] reported the emergence of E. olivina as a new pest in Terceira Island in the beginning of June 2008, and they registered two generations: one at the beginnings of June and the other at the endings of October. 4.2. Population dynamics of Euphyllura olivina on different olive cultivars Results of the present study demonstrated the relationships between rate of fruit infestation; flight activity of E. olivina and the environmental conditions throughout the 2013 growing seasons. Thus, results concluded that positive relationships were recorded between the rate of psylla infestation and its flight activity. Furthermore, present study demonstrated the variation in attractiveness and susceptibility of 10 olive cultivars to olive psylla. Balady; Grosya Deponia and Sevilano showed high attractiveness and susceptibility to olive psylla infestation meanwhile Nasohi Gaba; Kalamata; Tell and Nabaly Mohasen cultivar showed medium susceptability to olive psylla and Telmesani; Nabaly Baladi and Manzanilo cultivars were the lowest in susceptability to olive psylla. Semilar results were concluded by author [6] whom reported thtat life table parameters of olive psylla were significantly affected by the different olive cultivars in Iran. They found that, the development and demographic parameters of olive psylla were influenced by different cultivars and that effect was suggested to morphological and biochemical mechanisms that may be involved in the defense strategies of olive trees against this olive psylla. Furthermore, author [5] concluded that, the impact of the two growth conditions on psylla population was different and related that effect to the accelerated floral and vegetative growth of the tree in addition to the excessive humidity under intensive system in comparison with the extensive system in Tunisia. 5. Conclusions Throughout this research, following conclusions were recorded: 1. The seasonal flight activity of Eupyllura olivina in the southern highlands of Palestine started in early April, and continued its activity throughout the season till the end of September with its peak of flight activity at the mid of May. 2. Significant differences in rate of Eupyllura olivina infestation were recorded between the olive cultivars. 3. Nabaly Baladi and Manzanilo cultivars were the lowest in susceptability to olive psylla. 4. Yellow sticky traps are the most efficient in capturing E. olivina than the green; red and blue traps. American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS) (2016) Volume 21, No 1, pp 61-68 68 Acknowledgements This is to thank National Agricultural Research Center (NARC)/ Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture for their cooperation in conducting this study in the olive grove in Al-Arroub Agricultural Experimental Station. References [1] PCBS. Agricultural Statistics Survey, Main Results, Ramallah, Palestine. Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. 2010 [2] M. Khader, and M. Kware. Integrated Pest Management for Olive and Citrus Union of Agricultural Work Committees Association Gaza (UAWCA). 2010. [3] T. Mustafa. Factors affecting the distribution of Euphillura olivina Costa (Hom., Psyllaae) on olive. Z. Ang. Ent., 97: 371- 375. 1984. [4] T. Mustafa. Seasonal changes in fat and water content in field populations of olive psylla Euphyllura olivina Costa (Homoptera Psyllaae). Insect. Sci. Applic., 10(2): 181- 185. 1989. [5] A. Dibo, and M. Ksantini. Study on Reproduction and Development of Olive Tree Psylla Euphyllura olivina Costa (Hemiptera: Psyllaae) Under Different Plantation Types. Arab Journal of Plant Protection, 29: 141-148. 2011. [6] R, Asadi; A. Talebi; J. Khalghani; Y. Fathipour; S. Moharramipour, & D. Burckhardt Comparative development and demographic parameters of Euphyllura pakistanica on four olive cultivars Bulletin of Insectology 64 (2): 159-165, 2011 AISSN 1721-8861. 2011. [7] T. Mustafa. Bionomics of the olive psylla Eupyllura olivina costa Hom. Psyllaae in Jordan. Journal of Biological Sciences Research 20(1): 159-166.1989. [8] D. Lopes; J. Horta; R. Pimentel; N. Macedo; J. Martins; M. Zorman; L. Ventura; M. Aguiar; J. Mumford; & A. Mexia. Pests that affect the olive groves on Terceira Island, 39-46 P in Working Group “Integrated Protection of Olive Crops”. Proceedings of the meeting at Cordoba (Spain), 01 – 04 June, 2009. Edited by Argyro Kalaitzaki & Konstantinos Minachilis. ISBN 978-92-9067-233-3 [xxviii + 200 pp.].IOBC/wprs Bulletin, Vol. 59. (2010).